Figure toy



(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1,

R. A. CHAPMAN.

FIGURE TOY.

. No, 472,429. PatentedApr. 5,1892.

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WITNESSES /N VENTOFI A TTOHNEYS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.) R. A. CHAPMAN. FIGURE TOY.

No. 472,429; Patented Apr. 5, 1892.

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BY flu g ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT Genres,

ROBERT A. CHAPMAN, OF GLYMON T, MARYLAND.

FIGURE TOY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 472,429, dated April 5, 1892.

Application filed June 3,1891. Serial No. 894,960%. (No model.)

To al whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT A. CHAPMAN, of Glymont, in the countyof Charles and State of Maryland, have invented a certain new and useful Improvementin Mechanical Toys, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improved toy of the class in which movable figures representing human beings are employed; and it consists in certain novel constructions and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section on about the line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a transverse section on about the line 4: 4, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a sectional detail, and Fig. 6 is a detail view illustrating the detent-pawl.

The toy includes a main frame A, to which is journaled a main shaft 13, which in the construction shown is the rear axle of a Wagon, which is also provided with a front axle C. It is manifest, however, that the apparatus may be embodied in a frame and a main shaft having a crank and turned by hand or in other suitable manner without departing from some of the broad principles of my invention. It is preferred, however, to make the toy in the form of a wagon, as shown, so that the apparatus will properly work as itis dragged across the floor or table.

The main shaft is provided with two diametrically-opposite cranks D and E. The cranks D and F. connect, respectively, with the figures d and e by means of the pitmen d and e. v

The figure d represents a white man, and the figure c a black man, and these are supported in guides on the frame A and are reciprocated alternately thereon.

On the frameAis provided a box or casing F, and in front of such box I provide inclosures d and 6 into which the figures d and 6 move in their rearmost positions, so that as one figure advances to the box the other is inclosed and practically out of sight.

Within the box I arrange a figure or figures G, which are movable into position to face the figure d as the latter advances to the box. This figure G is pivoted at g and has a crankarm g and is movable on its pivot g, so that it may be raised to face the approaching figure d or be lowered out of the way, so that it will not face the other figure (2. These figures G will lower by gravity, but are raised to face figure d by means of an arm h, engaging the crank g. This arm h is on a slide-rod H, which slides on the main frame and is engaged by the figure (Z as the latter moves forward. By this means it will be seen that the figure d as it moves forward operates the slide-rod to turn the figure G up to face said figure d, and then as the figure (Z moves back it permits the figure G to lower by gravity. This operation is simple and will be readily understood. It will be noticed that the black figure c is arranged to move up to the box F without any movement on the part of the figure G, while when the white figure reaches about half-way to the box F the figures G rise and present their guns at him, and he then stops his forward movement and moves back again into his inclosure. The main shaft is also provided between the cranks D and E with cranks I and J, which operate figures and parts presently described. Above this main shaft are supported two figures K and L, the former being represented as holding the latter over a stump, and alongside the figures K and Lis shown a figure M, grasping in his hands a spade m, with which he is striking the figure L as the arms of the figure M rise and fall.

To eifect the movement of the arms m, I

provide a slide-rod N, connected at its upper ends with the arms m and provided at its lower end with a portion '17,, arranged for engagement by the crank I, so that the main shaft as it turns operates to cause the figures M to strike the figure L. The portion 11. of the slide-rod Nis simply arranged in the path of the crank I, so that it will be lifted and permitted to descend as the crank is turned.

In the rear of the figure M is provided a board or partition 0, having an opening 0, and on the opposite side of this partition from figure M is arranged four figures P P P P arranged normally below the opening 0 and adapted to be lifted to show through such opening 0. These figures may for convenience of reference be termed the onlooking figures, and are arranged in pairs, the figures P P constituting one or the first pair and the figures P P constituting the other or second pair. The figures of the first pair are connected bya rod 1) with the slide-rod N and are raised and lowered by the reciprocation of such rod. The figures of the second pair are supported on the upper end of a slide-rod Q, the lower end of which is formed for engagement by the crank J and as cranks I and J are arranged diametrically opposite it will be seen that the pairs of figures are alternately raised and lowered.

A detent-pawl R is arranged for engagement by one of the main-shaft cranks. It may be the crank I, as shown, to prevent the main shaft from turning backward. The relation of this pawl R to its crank I is shown most clearly in Fig. 4, it being pivoted at its rear end in rear of such crank and extended forward over the same, as shown in Fig. 3. By this construction and arrangement of the pawl it will be seen that the shaft may turn freely forward in the direction it will move as the toy is moved forward; but on the reverse movement the crank will engage upon the pawl and the latter will stop the backward movement of the shaft.

In operation as the main shaft is turned the black and white figures will be caused to alternately move toward and away from the box F, and as the white figure moves toward the box F the figures G will rise, w th their guns pointed toward him, and then descend as the white figure retires and the black one moves forward to the box. Meanwhile the figure M is operated to strike the figure L, and the figures P, 1, P and P are caused to rise to position to View such performance through the opening 0, the movement of the several parts being effected by the turning of the main shaft. Manife'stly when desired a suitable motor of any simple well-known form may .be applied to drive the main shaft.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. An improved toy comprising the main frame, the box or frame thereon, the figures (Z and e, movable toward and from said box, the figure G, the figure L, the figure M, having its arms provided with means for strikingthe figure L, the main shaft, and connections between such shaft and the figures (l, c, G, and M, substantially as set forth.

2. A toy comprising a main frame, a box or frame mounted thereon,box-like inclosures in front of the said first-named-box and separated therefrom, figures operating alternately and movable in their rearward movements into their box-like inclosures and forward to the box, a figure or figures operating in the box and movable into position to face one of the alternately-operating figures as it approaches the box, and operating devices, substantially as set forth.

3. In a toy, substantially as described, the combination of the main frame, the box or frame mounted thereon, the figures (Z c, movable alternately on the main frame toward and from the box, devices for operating such figures, and the figure or figures G, movably supported in the box, and devices connected with the figure G and arranged to be engaged by one of the figures (Z 6, whereby the movement of the said figure may operate the figure G, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4c. In a toy, the combination of the main frame, the main shaft having cranks, the figure L, the figure M, havingits arms provided with means for striking the figure L, the onlooking figures, and slide-rods connected with the figures M and the onlooking figures and arranged for operation by the cranks of the main shaft, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. In a toy, the combination of the main shaft having cranks I J, the figure M, the onlooking figures arranged in pairs, a slide-rod arranged for engagement by the crank I and connected with the figure M and one pair of the onlooking figures, and a slide-rod connected with the other pair of said figures and arranged for engagement by the crank J, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

R. A. CHAPMAN.

\Vitnesses:

SOLON C. KEMON, FRED G. DIETERIUH. 

